A Turkish steel company, Özkan Demir Çelik, is looking to build a factory in Louisiana that could bring 300 jobs and an investment of $150 million, according to a representative for the company.

A Turkish steel company is considering building a factory in Louisiana.

Fehmi Nuhoglu, vice president of investments and strategic development for Ozkan Steel USA LLC, was in Louisiana this week meeting with local economic development representatives and Turkish groups like Baton Rouge’s Atlas Foundation and Turkish Cultural Center.

He said his company, which is based in Turkey and has office and warehouse space in Houston, has been buying scrap metal in the U.S., taking it to Turkey to turn it into steel, and then bringing it back to the U.S. to sell.

“It’s not logical,” Nuhoglu said in Baton Rouge Thursday.

So the company wants to build a factory in the U.S. to make the process more efficient. In addition, Nuhoglu said that manufacturing is more affordable in the U.S. because energy costs are so expensive in Turkey.

Turkey imports nearly all of its energy, driving up costs: According to Bloomberg, Turkey imported about 92 percent of its oil in 2011 and 98 percent of its natural gas. Nuhoglu estimated he could save upwards of 70 percent on energy costs by manufacturing in the southern U.S.

Ozkan hasn’t decided on a location yet, but Nohuglu said the company wants to locate somewhere in Louisiana because of the business incentives available.

Deniz Senyurt, commercial attaché for the consulate general of Turkey, said Ozkan is a “well-known player” in the Turkish steel market. Its steel is a specialized, higher-grade type of steel that is used for purposes like shipbuilding and is not currently manufactured in the U.S., Nuhoglu said.

"It will be a value-add for the U.S. market, rather than a competitor,” Senyurt said.

Senyurt’s office is charged with promoting bilateral trade between Turkey and eight Southern states, and she said that she plans to bring more Turkish companies to visit Louisiana in the future.

“The Turkish people are very interested in learning more about this state,” Senyurt said. “It’s just a very friendly business environment. Wherever we go, we are welcomed.”